Postal ATM in Doranda by June

Do you have a savings account at your nearest post office, but cringe at the thought of queuing up for hours to withdraw money? If yes, here’s good news for you.

Jharkhand’s first postal automated teller machine (ATM) will come up at Doranda-based head post office by June. The move will benefit capital resident who will be able to withdraw money from their postal savings accounts whenever they wish to.

Sources from Jharkhand postal department said ATM kiosks would also come up at Dhanbad, Giridih and West Singhbum districts as a part of Indiapost’s plans to introduce core banking system in the sector. Indiapost plans to open 2,800 ATMs across the country by March 2015.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Jharkhand circle’s chief post master-general Abhay Shekhar Prasad said: “The first postal ATM will be coming up at Doranda head post office. The move will benefit more than a lakh savings account holders. Instead of spending lot of time at the post office, they will be able to withdraw money in a jiffy.”

Prasad added that they had already floated a tender for installation of the ATM. “We also have plans to equip 13 head post offices with core banking solutions,” he said.

Customers with saving schemes in post offices can use the ATM kiosk to withdraw the sum after maturity.

Prasad said that the ATM facility would gradually be extended to sub-post offices.

“Nearly 441 sub-post offices have been computerised in the four districts of Ranchi, Dhanbad, Giridih and West Singhbhum. We will provide ATM services to account holders at these post offices later,” he maintained.

Over the past few years, Jharkhand postal department has introduced a number of services for its customers.

These include e-post, sale of passport forms and provision of railway reservations.

The postal department has also tied up with various state departments to provide social security services, especially in rural areas.

Disbursement of wages to MGNREGS beneficiaries through post office savings accounts, payment of old-age pension, sale of gold coins, and online acceptance of RTI applications are some of the services introduced.